April Style Challenge - Senior Moment!

There's only one problem with being an over 60 blogger: sometimes we suffer from Senior Moments! It's been challenging enough having to take photos with my mobile phone, due to my camera having been sent off for the lens to be fixed.  But then we met friends for a Spanish-British intercambio on Saturday and somehow (don't ask me!) I left my mobile phone behind.  With photos of me - complete with my accessories  - ready to upload for this post. Doh!

One accessory I have already shown before on this blog, and that is my gold bracelet:

Looking again at this outfit, there were a lot of different accessories, apart from the bracelet.  You can see a necklace, which matches the coral cardigan, plus a green ring and (though not shown here) I also had a green watch. Isn't there a saying that less is more?  In my case, more was more - I think I got slightly carried away here!

In the photo that I can't show you: I wore the bracelet with a purple top this time and a simple gold necklace that didn't distract attention from the bracelet.  I like to think it was a more elegant look, but unfortunately I can't post it for you to agree. I just hope that you have a vivid imagination!

I mentioned my green watch above.  I like watches as they can add a subtle touch of colour to any outfit. I also wore a pale lilac watch with the purple top - though I can't remember whether it can be seen in the photo (short-term memory problems!). Most of my watches are inexpensive.  I recently bought a Spanish magazine for 4.95€, which included a white watch and a perfume sample.  The lilac watch was even cheaper, as it came with a different Spanish magazine that cost me the princely sum of 2€!  I like having a selection of coloured watches to brighten up my basic outfits.

So if you are getting slightly bored with some of your outfits, it doesn't cost a lot to rejuvenate them with accessories. Whether you choose scarves, necklaces, bracelets, watches, bags or shoes is up to personal preference. What is your favourite accessory - and why?

PS If the photo looks ok when uploaded, I will add it to the end of this post and republish.

One pair of trousers: how many different looks?

I decided to see how many different outfits I could create using just one pair of trousers out of my 33 items of clothing and wearing them with different tops and cardigans.  The trousers are navy, which is one of my core colours.  Here are some of the possible permutations:

 

 

 

I've shown eight outfits above, but I have another four tops that could be worn with the navy cardigan and trousers.  With all of these outfits I could wear my grey casual jacket instead of the cardigan. For an even more casual look I could replace the navy trousers with navy jeans, which means I have already created 48 different outfits using just 16 out of my 33 items of clothing.

Accessories can totally change the look of your outfit. You may decide to look casual or you may prefer a more sophisticated look. I have to say that most of the time I go for a casual look - and comfort!

My everyday bags

Shoes and boots for trousers

I enjoy wearing jewellery and have many different colours to choose from!  A selection of my necklaces is shown below.  Most days I will wear a necklace, though sometimes I will choose a scarf instead and maybe put on a bracelet.  This can also create a slightly different outfit, to add to the variety of your looks.  Initially I thought only 33 items would limit me: instead, I feel it is giving me limitless possibilities.  What do you think?

Dare I broach the subject of brooches?

When I was younger I didn't wear brooches.  I think I looked upon them as an accessory for grannies, great aunts and other elderly ladies.  No doubt my husband would comment that the reason I now enjoy wearing brooches is because I am an elderly lady myself!  As sixty is the new forty, I still consider myself to be verging on middle age and definitely nowhere near being elderly. I just happen to appreciate brooches as I have become more discerning and stylish!

The selection above is used to brighten up and add interest to my coats and jackets.  My favourite brooch is the one on the top right-hand side, which was a Christmas present from my daughter Kate, and which is almost permanently attached to my winter coat.

My latest acquisition is still in the post, as I ordered it recently from the Royal British Legion's on line shop.

It is, of course, a poppy brooch: ideal to wear on a dull winter's day! I must say that I was rather taken with the poppy ring and pendant too - maybe next year?

I mentioned recently that hubby John had bought me a beautiful tin in Paris that I planned to fill with my jewellery.  He had chosen it for me as he knew I would love the picture and it was a bonus when the shopkeeper pointed out that it contained yummy chocolate biscuits!

Do you like wearing brooches?  If so, please tell us about your favourite brooch.  Go to Une Femme to see more lovely brooches.

My jewellery - NOT included in project 333!

I have noticed that the theme for today on several other fashion blogs is jewellery. It seems the ideal moment to confess to how many pieces of jewellery I possess that I deliberately excluded from my 33 items of clothing to wear over the next 3 months as part of Project 333.  I like to ring the changes with my jewellery so would have found it difficult to limit myself to just a couple of pieces.  I would probably have been ok if it had been 333 items for 3 months instead of only 33!

Most of my jewellery is costume jewellery and many items were presents from friends and family, who have noticed my tendency to wear several pieces of jewellery every day.  As I don't have pierced ears I don't wear earrings on a regular basis, but I have lots of different coloured necklaces, bracelets and rings to brighten up my wardrobe, with a few coloured watches as well.

If you have downsized your wardrobe as I am trying to do, having a good selection of jewellery helps you to create different looks and stops you being bored with your limited clothes.  It is also a good way to follow fashion trends and look up to date without spending too much money or risking looking like a fashion victim.

17 bracelets

8 rings and 8 watches

I make that a total of 25 necklaces

6 pairs of earrings and 6 brooches

Well there you have it - more than 33 items of jewellery, so how could I select just a couple of pieces?!  What would you choose if you were limited to one item in each category?  I haven't quite finished, as I live in Spain - so during the summer months there is one essential accessory that all señoras and señoritas need to carry...!